Solids-liquids blender



Jan. 9, 1968 J. J. FISCHER v SOLIDS-LIQUIDS BLENDER Filed NOV. 12, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOH/VJ. FISCHER m, A u A TTORNEYS Jan. 9, 1968 J. J. FISCHER SOLIDS-LIQUIDS BLENDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1965 INVENTOR. JOHN J. FISCHER ATTORNEYS Jan. 9, 1968 J. J. FISCHER 3,362,688

SOLIDS-LIQUIDS BLENDER Filed Nov. 12, 1965 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOHN J. FISCHER amwwfi aza wm A TTOPNE'YS Jan. 9, 1968 J. J. FISCHER 3,352,633

SOLIDS-LIQUIDS BLENDER I Filed Nov. 12, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JOHN J. FISCHEQ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,362,688 SOLIDS-LIQUIDS BLENDER John J. Fischer, Stokes Mill Road, East Stroudsburg, Pa. 18301 Fiied Nov. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 507,383 6 Claims. (Cl. 259-3) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An undulant container disposed substantially horizontally and rotated about its general horizontal axis provided with an eccentric feed inlet drum at one end which rotates therewith. A liquid spray head projects into the drum and is rotated at high speed and is located Within the drum so as to simultaneously introduce the liquid and agitate or work dry material also introduced into the drum, all prior to introduction of the material into the undulant container.

Background of the invention This invention relates to materials handling machines of the general type disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 186,469, filed Apr. 10, 1962, and constitutes an improvement in such prior machine whereby to effect a novel liquid-solid blending effect.

Thus, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved solids-liquids mixing or blending machine adapted to function also as a metering feeder, to which materials may be continuously added and from which a homogeneously blended product will be discharged in precisely metered batch form.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine as aforesaid which will deliver precisely metered batches of blended products from mixtures of feed materials incidental to a continuously running blending operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as aforesaid which is simple and rugged in design and which involves a minimum of moving parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View, partly in section, of a machine of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end view, on enlarged scale, of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on enlarged scale taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5, are fragmentary sectional views taken as suggested by lines 44 and 5-5 of FIGS. 3 and 1, respectively; and

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 and showing a modified form of machine of the invention.

The features of the present invention are the result of extended research and development work on the basic V-type blending mill which is the subject of my previous Patent No. 2,514,126, and more particularly my co-pending application Ser. No. 186,469 aforesaid. Generally stated, the present invention is embodied in a machine assembly comprising in effect a series of intercommunicating V-sections; and improved means for feeding solid and liquid materials to one end of the series while permitting the blended product to dump in batches from the other end. A highly efiicient materials blending and flow metering device is thus provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 herewith, the blending device of the invention may be embodied in a machine generally comprising a blending or mixing shell or container 20 made of metal, plastic or other suitable material,

3,362,688 Patented Jan. 9, 1968 and which is formed to provide a series of openly intercomrnunicating truncated tubular sections 22, which are disposed to extend lengthwise of the machine in zig-zag relation. The zig-zag relationships of the tubular components 22 may be centered in one plane or may exist in any number of radially intersecting planes passing through the center line of rotation of the device, as may be preferred, Thus, in any case the configuration of the container 20 provides, in effect, a series of intercommunicating V-shaped chambers.

The container 20 is preferably mounted for rotation on a tilt table or base member such as is indicated at 25; which may be provided in the form of a beam of metal, wood or any other suitable material. Trunnion wheels as shown at 26 are carried on the base 25 as by mounting brackets 27, to engage corresponding trunnion rims such as are indicated at 29, 29, thereby supporting the container for rotation on the wheels 26. The rims 29, 29 are mounted so that their centers of rotation coincide with the longitudinal center line of the container as indicated at C.L. (FIG. 1) to minimize eccentric loadings on the mounting mechanism. Any suitable means for rotating the container assembly may be provided, such as a motor and gear box unit 30 driving through a belt or chain 32 trained around a sprocket 34 which in turn is mounted on the container 20 concentrically of the center line of rotation of the container.

The feed inlet end of the container 20 is shown as comprising a cylindrically shaped material receiving drum 35, which is fixed to the end of the container 20 eccentrically of its center line of rotation while in open communication therewith. The drum 35 is formed with a circular feed receiving opening through the outer end wall thereof, which opening is concentric with the axis of rotation of the container. A loading hopper 36 is stationarily mounted upon the base 25 such as by means of posts 3838, and in cludes a discharge apron or nozzle portion 39 leading into the feed inlet opening through the end wall of the drum 35. As shown in better detail in FIG. 3, the end of the feed nozzle preferably extends somewhat into the drum 35 and a dust seal device 40 is employed to seal the juncture of the nozzle 39 and the drum 35 to prevent leakage of material therefrom.

The machine of the present invention tumbles materials in the manner disclosed in my earlier Patent No. 2,514,- 126, but in addition it also moves the particles both downstream and upstream, the overall net flow being downstream. The net flow rate through a given machine depends on the rate of feed and the speed of rotation of the machine, and on the angle of tilt at which the rotation axis is set. The angle of tilt is arranged to be adjustable such as by. means of screws 42 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5) so that for an optimum r.p.m. the machine output can be regulated within desired limits.

As a blender the machine is more elficient than a container of simple V-shape form because the material in any but the first or last leg sections of the container will be subject to two splitting and two re-combining cycles in each complete revolution of the container. However, of even more importance is the fact that the machine provides two other outstanding operating characteristics which provide unique advantages in mixing or blending operations. Firstly, rotation of the blending apparatus of the invention automatically effects a feeding or traveling movement of material therewithin along the length of the container. The travel effect referred to would normally be from the center of the container outwardly toward both ends thereof, but by virtue of the shape and arrangement of the receiving drum 35 and the loading chute 39 as illustrated herein, egress of material from the intake end of the container is prevented.

Hence, since the feed supply to the machine through the chute 39 is maintained continuously, fresh batches of feed material will constantly intermix with the reversely thrown portion of each previously inlet batch. Therefore the feed-in effect results in an overall travel of material from the intake end of the container toward the discharge end thereof. As the machine rotates through each successive 180 degree phase of rotation the batches occupying bottom apex portions of the machine are further subdivided and transported progressively through the consecutively intercommunicating and zig-zag disposed tubular portions of the machine; until finally a batch of material comprising the blended mixture of a plurality of subdivided portions of consecutively inlet feed batches is dumped from the discharge end of the machine incidental to each revolution. Throughout the above described process the material is constantly rolled, dumped, and infolded, and split and remixed incidental to each revolution of each apex portion of the machine from its lowermost to its uppermost position.

Thus, progress of the material through the machine is accompanied by a superior material blending action, and it will also be noted that each 360 degree revolution of the machine will cause a precisely subdivided portion of the load to be discharged therefrom in batch form. By altering the inclination of the center line of the machine (such as by adjusting the screws 42 to raise or lower one end of the machine bed 25) the size of each batch of material to be discharged from the machine may be precisely regulated. Furthermore, by simple regulation of the speed of rotation, the number of batches discharged per minute may be precisely controlled; and therefore it will be appreciated that the machine of the invention also comprises a readily regulated and precisely operable material flow metering device.

The machine is particularly adapted for example to be employed in conjunction with package filling operations such as wherein rows of empty containers are transported adjacent the discharge end of the machine in synchronization with the machine rotation, whereby precisely measured batches of material may be dumped into each container. Or, the machine may be employed simply to blend materials from plural supply sources and to deliver a uniformly mixed product to a conveyor or the like at any desired rate of delivery. In any case, the machine is self-feeding in the sense that it may be adjusted to deliver at the desired rate and it will automatically draw upon the feed supplies through the chute 39 in accord with its feeding requirements.

It is a particular feature of the machine of the invention that it is adapted to deliver a precisely measured mix of difierent materials whereas previously designed arrangements involving the use of pluralities of feeders discharging different materials to a common delivery point have proven to be inferior; being subject to substantial variations in the proportions of ingredients in the output. In the case of the present invention however, each fall of material from an apex portion of the machine, as it rotates toward its uppermost position, results in a recycling of more than one-half of the batch previously occopying the same apex. The quantity of material thereby recycled can be regulated by simply adjusting the tilt of the longitudinal axis of the mill. Therefore, any inadvertent variances in the feed material ratios are being constantly leveled out; and the method for accomplishing this in the case of the present invention is much simpler than in the case of any other recycling method.

The machine of the invention will provide the superior blending features referred to hereinabove when working only with solids of various degrees of fineness, specific gravity, etc.; and it will also be similarly effective when both liquid and solid materials are being blended and delivered by the machine. To introduce liquid feed materials into the mill, the chute structure 389 (FIG. 3) may be apertured as shown herein to accommodate projection therethrough of a tubular housing 44 which is fixed to the chute structure and rotatably mounts therein a hollow drive shaft 45 as by means of a ball bearing device 46 and a bushing or roller bearing 48, at opposite ends of the housing. A liquid-dust seal as indicated at 4-9 is preferably provided at the inner end portion of the housing. At its inner end the hollow drive shaft 45 projects into the drum 35 and mounts thereon a liquid spray head which is indicated generally at 50. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, the spray head is of hollow cage form comprising a pair of housing members 52, 52 keyed to the shaft 4-5 and held together as by means of screws 53. As shown in FIG. 3, an annulus 54 is disposed between the opposite faces of the housing members 52, 52, thereby providing in cooperation with the annulus 54 a pair of annular crevices through the cylindrical wall portion of the spray head device; the widths of the crevices being regulated by adjustments of the screws 53, 53. The drive shaft 45 is perforated as indicated at 56 (FIG. 3); and thus it will be appreciated that liquid flowing under pressure through the hollow interior of the shaft 45 passes through the aperture 56 and thence into the interiors of the cage parts 5252 and thence out through the crevices. Thus, the liquid is expressed therefrom around the periphery of the spray head 50, as suggested by the fluid-flow directional arrows in FIG. 3.

At its outer end the drive shaft 45 extends into a rotary coupling as indicated at 60, through which feed liquid is conducted under pressure as by means of a conduit 62 (FIG. 1). The drive shaft 45 also carries a pulley or sprocket as indicated at 64, and is thereby arranged to be driven by means of a belt 66 and a motor 68 (FIG. 1), or the like. Thus, it will be appreciated that as the motor 68 rotates the spray head at high speed it will disperse feed liquid in finely divided spray or film form into the dry feed material; the parts being so dimensioned and arranged that the spray head 50 normally resides inside the body of dry material milling around within the feed drum 35. Hence, the spray head will not only disperse finely divided liquid feed material into the dry feed, but it will also churn the dry material as the latter flows to and fro in the feed chamber 35 due to disposition of the feed chamber center line eccentrically of its center of rotation. To augment the dry feed material churning effect, pluralities of radially extending blades or paddles as indicated at 70 (FIG. 4) may be bolted or otherwise affixed to the spray head structure so as to extend radially therefrom. As shown best in FIG. 3, the spray head 50 is preferably constructed so that the liquid exit crevices thereof, and the paddle blades 76 are disposed generally in planes canted to the center line of rotation of the spray head. Thus, rotation of the spray head 50 is accompanied by a particularly vigorous churning action and by a back and. forth liquid spraying effect relative to the dry feed material occupying the drum 35.

The machine construction illustrated and described hereinabove in connection with FIGS. 1-5 of the drawing is best adapted to the processing of granular, non-lumping materials; and especially whenever only relatively small quantities of liquid are to be added to the dry feed material, and where post-blending of the mixture is requisite in order to provide maximum uniformity of liquid coatings on the solid particles. On the other hand, FIG. 6 herewith illustrates another form of the machine of the invention which is particularly adapted to process materials requiring no substantial post-blending, and which would tend to agglomerate when Worked. That is to say, the machine shown in FIGURE 1 employs a relatively great number of zig-zag legs between the inlet and discharge ends thereof whereas the machine of FIGURE 6 employs only a few such legs whereby in contrast to the machine of FIGURES 1-5 wherein a considerable amount of post blending is effected after introduction of the liquid in the feed drum, only a minimal amount of post blending is achieved in the short undulant section of FIGURE 6 subsequent to the introduction of liquid in the feed inlet drum.

Thus, as is shown in FIGURE 6, the various angulated legs 22 lead eccentrically into the feed inlet drum 35, which drum has its geometrical axis disposed eccentrically to the general longitudinal axis of the undulant portion about which the mechanism is rotated. The liquid feed means in FIGURE 6 will be seen to consist of a pair of spray heads 52 disposed below the axis of rotation and normally residing inside the body of dry material milling around within the feed drum 35, as is the case with FIG- URES 1-5. Additionally, each spray head is provided with a plurality of laterally projecting blades or agitating vanes 70. Other than the above, the construction of FIGURE 6 is identical with that of FIGURE 1. Also the form of the machine illustrated in FIG. 6 tends to minimize attrition of the solid particles. Therefore the machine of FIG. 6 is particularly suited to the blending of relatively fine solids with relatively high percentages of liquid additives. In this case the liquid-solids dispersion effect is accomplished substantially within the feed drum portion of a machine, and the passage of the product through the relatively shorter zig-zag portion of the machine functions primarily to establish and maintain a steady flow rate of discharge from the machine. Thus, this machine minimizes the post-blending effects imposed upon the product, and thereby avoids tendencies of the material to agglomerate subsequent to the initial blending. With reference to FIG. 6 of the drawing herewith, like numerals have been employed to designate corresponding parts'when describing the machine illustrated by FIGS. 1-5.

Many advantages accrue to the machine of the invention because it is basically of the tumbler type. It employs no internal scrapers, stirring devices, screens, vanes or paddles with its undulant portion. Thus, gentle action is an inherent characteristic of its operations. Solid particle motions are produced entirely by gravity forces, and the motions of the rolling type. Consequently, the particles are not crushed, smeared, or otherwise subjected to excessive mechanical work. Self-feeding from the input hopper is automatic, and the unit accepts material at a pre-set rate which can be adjusted and controlled as explained hereinabove, while metered slugs or batches of blended material are discharged intermittently at the output end of the machine. The batches of output material are uniformly aerated and are therefore of constant bulk density. Experience proves that the batches are measured out with extremely high precision; the maximum variation from batch to batch being usually less than one percent. As hereinabove explained, control of the volume per batch is easily regulated, and hence the quantity of material discharged per batch can be set within extremely close limits.

The machine of the invention features simplicity of construction and easy cleanability. The internal surfaces of the machine are all smooth and of simple shapes. Also, all interior surfaces and parts are readily accessible for cleaning and/ or inspection purposes. From the standpoint of maintenance there are no screens, baffles, flights, impellers, or the like such as would from time to time need to be removed and/or replaced. Abrasive wear on the shell parts is negligible because the material blending action induces only gentle rolling motions of the material. There is a minimum of scraping of material against the shell parts, and no tendency for the material to jam or compact in the mill, as is the case of pusher or screw type mixers.

It should be noted that Whereas I have disclosed herein only one presently preferred form of the machine of the invention, wherein consecutively communicating legs of the container are of truncated cylindrical form and disposed in angular relation, and in a common place, various modifications thereof may be employed. For example, the angular relation between adjacent legs may be at any other preferred angle than as shown in the drawing, and instead of the sharp apex configuration the container may be fabricated to a more smoothly undulating form. Also, instead of forming all of the leg portions in a common plane, the legs may be angularly related in lateral directions so as to extend in various radial directions when viewed endwise.

As shown herein the container may be readily fabricated of steel tubing pieces cut off angularly and welded together to provide the zig-zag form thereof. Or, in lieu thereof, the container may be fabricated by using short lengths of threaded pipe and appropriately threaded el bows to interconnect adjacent leg portions. Or, the container may be fabricated by simply casting processes, or by bending a piece of straight tubing into the desired un dulant form. Also, it will be appreciated that the con tainer may or may not be jacketed for heating or cooling purposes, as may be required.

Thus, although only a few forms have been illustrated and described in detail hereinabove, it will be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a materials handling machine of the type comprising an elongate container having a tubular portion of undulant form having a longitudinal axis of rotation, said tubular portion terminating at one end in a discharge portion and at the other end in an inlet opening, said container including a substantially cylindrical feed inlet drum having its geometrical axis extending in the same direction as said longitudinal axis of the container and joined to said tubular portion at said inlet opening end of the latter, said inlet opening leading into said feed drum eccentrically of the geometrical axis thereof, said drum having a material inlet opening concentric with said longitudinal axis, means for feeding granular material into said drum through said material inlet opening thereof, and means for rotating said container about said longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising:

liquid feed means projecting into said drum through said material inlet opening thereof and terminating in a spray head disposed within the confines of said drum below said longitudinal axis about which the container is rotated,

and said feed inlet drum having its geometrical axis offset from said longitudinal axis whereby said geometrical axis of the feed drum describes (a) a circular path having said longitudinal axis as its center and (b) a circular path relative to said spray head.

2. The machine as defined in claim 1 including means for rotating said spray head.

3. The machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said spray head is provided with radially projecting blades.

4. In a materials handling machine comprising an undulant container disposed with its general longitudinal axis disposed substantially horizontally, means for rotating said container about said general longitudinal axis, said container including an intermediate portion comprised of a series of legs interconnected in end-to-end, zigzag relation and defining an undulant flow path within said intermediate portion so that material is fed toward both ends of said container within said intermediate portion thereof as said container is rotated, means for introducing material into one end of said intermediate portion whereby the net flow of material is toward the opposite end of said intermediate portion, means for receiving and discharging material from said opposite end of the intermediate portion, the improvement comprising:

said means for introducing material comprising a generally cylindrical feed inlet drum having its geometrical axis substantially parallel to but offset from said general longitudinal axis,

means for introducing granular material into said feed inlet drum,

and liquid feed means for simultaneously introducing liquid into said feed inlet drum and agitating the 7 8 granular material therein prior to its introduction References Cited into said intermediate portion. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. The machine according to claim 4 wherein said 1 liquid feed means includes a liquid spray head disposed 2590327 6/959 Ffscher 259 .16 within said drum and means for rotating said spray head. 5 2915300 12/1959 Flschfir 259-16 6. The machine according to claim 5 wherein said i spray head is located within said drum below said general WALTER SCHEEL Dummy Examme' longitudinal axis. J. M. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

